Method and apparatus for transmitting a digital picture with textual material

Abstract

A method and system for incorporating textual and audio material into a JPEG file in a manner allowing both a photograph and the textual material to be stored as one unit and transferred as one unit. The textual materials stored in various photograph tag markers which become part of the JPEG file. The JPEG file including the textual material can be transferred to an authorized user who could edit the file based upon password security. The textual materials can appear around any of the borders of the photographs or can be directly embedded into the photograph.

1. A method for creating an augmented media file, comprising the steps of:
 creating an original digital photograph having a plurality of n digital pixels said plurality of n digital pixels including a first section within said n digital pixels containing m digital pixels;  
 transferring said original digital photograph to a first storage device provided in a first microprocessor provided with a first data entry device;  
 editing said original digital photograph using said data entry device by replacing said first section containing m digital pixels with a second section of m digital pixels of non-photographic material, thereby producing an altered digital photograph; and  
 creating an augmented media file by storing said altered digital photograph and said first section of digital pixels as a single file, wherein said first section is stored within photographic tag markers appended to said altered digital photograph.  
 
   
   
     2. The method of creating an augmented media file in accordance with  claim 1 , including the step of transferring said augmented media file to a second storage device provided in a second microprocessor provided with a second data entry device. 
   
   
     3. The method of creating an augmented media file in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the entering of at least one of said password is used to edit said textual material. 
   
   
     4. The method of creating an augmented media file in accordance with  claim 1 , further including the step of inserting at least one password in said photographic tag markers, allowing an authorized individual to edit said textual material. 
   
   
     5. The method of creating an augmented media file in accordance with  claim 4 , further including the step of inserting at least two dissimilar passwords in said photographic tag markers, allowing disparate individuals to edit different portions of said textual material. 
   
   
     6. The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further including the step of storing said second section of m digital pixels within said photographic tag markers appended to said altered digital photograph. 
   
   
     7. An augmented media file for displaying an altered photograph on a display device, the altered photograph originally containing a plurality of n digital pixels used to create an original photograph, the n digital pixels including a first section within the n digital pixels containing m digital pixels, the augmented media file comprising:
 the altered photograph with the first section containing m digital pixels replaced with a second section of m digital pixels of non-photographic material; and  
 photographic tag markers affixed to said altered photograph to create the augmented media file, said photographic tag markers further including the first section of m digital pixels, wherein said altered photograph and said photographic tag markers form a single augmented media file.  
 
   
   
     8. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 7 , said altered photograph including additional non-photographic material appended to the borders of the photograph and said photographic tags also including said additional non-photographic material. 
   
   
     9. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 7 , further including non-photographic sound material attached to the augmented media file. 
   
   
     10. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said photographic tag markers include a header marker provided with information relating to the first section containing m digital pixels and said second section containing m digital pixels. 
   
   
     11. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein said header marker is provided immediately in front the end of image (EOI) tag included in standard JPEG files. 
   
   
     12. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein one of said photographic tag markers includes a password allowing an authorized individual to edit said non-photographic material. 
   
   
     13. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein one of said photographic tag markers includes at least two dissimilar passwords allowing disparate individuals to edit different portions of said non-photographic material. 
   
   
     14. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein one of said photographic tag markers is a header marker in which said password is stored. 
   
   
     15. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein one of said photography tag markers is a header marker in which said passwords are stored. 
   
   
     16. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said photographic tag markers further includes said second section of m digital pixels. 
   
   
     17. The augmented media file in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said augmented media file is a JPEG file. 
   
   
     18. A system for creating an augmented media file containing both a photograph and non-photographic material in a single file, comprising:
 a camera producing an original digital photograph containing n digital pixels;  
 a means for transferring said original digital photograph to a first storage device including a first microprocessor having a first display, said original digital photograph including a first section containing m digital pixels, said original digital photograph creating a media file within said first storage device;  
 a first data input device connected to said first microprocessor for replacing said first section of said digital photograph with a second section of m digital pixels of non-photographic material thereby producing an altered digital photograph; and  
 a device for creating an augmented media file, said augmented JPEG file including said altered digital photograph with said second section of m digital pixels replacing said first section of m digital pixels, said augmented media files including photographic tag markers said photographic tag markers including said first section of m digital pixels, wherein said altered photograph and said photographic tag marker form a single augmented media file.  
 
   
   
     19. The system in accordance with  claim 18 , further including a device for inserting a password in said photographic tag markers allowing an authorized individual to edit said non-photographic material. 
   
   
     20. The system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said device for inserting a password inserts at least two dissimilar passwords into said photographic tag markers allowing disparate individuals to edit different portions of said non-photographic material. 
   
   
     21. The system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said photographic tag markers further includes said second section of m digital pixels. 
   
   
     22. The system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said augmented media is a JPEG file. 
   
   
     23. The system for creating an augmented media file in accordance with  claim 18 , further including a means for transferring said entire augmented media file to a second storage device provided in a second microprocessor. 
   
   
     24. The system for creating an augmented media file in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said first and second microprocessors are provided with a means for searching said augmented media file for terms included in said non-photographic material. 
   
   
     25. The system for creating an augmented media file in accordance with  claim 18 , further including a second data input device allowing a user to edit said augmented media file using said second data input device. 
   
   
     26. The system for creating an augmented media file in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said non-photographic material is audio. 
   
   
     27. The system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said non-photographic material is textual material. 
   
   
     28. The system in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said textual material is provided along at least one border of said altered digital photograph.